goold: for a long time actually i was really interested in "richard ii" as a sort of, um michael jackson figure sort of a sexually ambiguous separate playful, capricious diva. there's a monkey in the piece which is the one echo still of that. jacobi: whishaw follows a clutch of actors who tackled the role each in their own unique way. a young ian mckellan wallowed in richard's self-love. richard ii: not all the water in the rough, rude sea can wash the balm from an anointed king. the breath of worldly men cannot depose the deputy elected by the lord. [fanfare playing] jacobi: mark rylance played the king as a spoiled child. richard ii: we were not born to sue, but to command! jacobi: stars like jeremy irons, ray fiennes, and kevin spacey have all tackled shakespeare's masterpiece. what does the king do now? must he submit? jacobi: i, too have worn the crown. back in 1978, i played richard on bbc television. a king shall be contented. must he lose the name of king? it's strange to see it. it's quite moving to watch it because i've never seen it and to see yourself 31 years younger is quit